Laser Cutter (G Weike)
| Laser Cutter (G Weike) | |
|---|---|
| [[File:|300px]] | |
| Make and Model | G Weike LG900N |
| Serial Number | |
| Area | Laser Cutters |
| Maintained by Team | Laser Cutter Team |
| Required PPE | n/a |
| Can Guests Use? | No |
| Training Required? | Required |
| Link to Training | https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLEqxnHBonYhWf-H8nDukvyfLUtp_4q-Fjpeo6gNZaI |
| Tool Status | Working |
G Weike Laser Cutter - Standard Operating Procedure
Model number: LG900N
Company: Jinan G Weike Science and Technology Co., LTD
Bed size: 2’ x 3’ (60cm x 90cm)
Training Documentation
The most up-to-date laser training documentation is on Google Drive.
Laser Etiquette
Use of the laser is first-come, first-serve. If you are going to be on the laser for a long time (2 hours or more), please notify other members via Slack in #tool-laser. Kwartzlab members have been great at being flexible with use of the laser, often letting others jump in between cuts/engraves if someone has a small job to perform.
Let’s keep this going!
Laser Cutter Prestart
- Check the laser cutter inside and out. Look through the honeycomb grid to make sure that there isn’t excessive detritus. If there is significant build up, then this could be a fire hazard, so you may need to remove the honeycomb and use the vacuum to clean the bed. If you are not comfortable with this since the honeycomb grid is delicate, then find someone who is.
- Check the bed for magnets, material, tape, or other debris that might obstruct the nozzle. Every time the laser is turned on the nozzle automatically returns to the home position (“Datum”- top right of the bed).
- Turn on the laser cutter using your FOB.
- The cooler should register at 19-25C (or ambient air temperature) and the fan should be running
- Feel the air flow near the back of the enclosure to ensure that the air extraction is working properly. Also check for air assist flow at the nozzle (If the laser is on, there should be air coming out), it is to ensure the lens stays clean and doesn’t crack from getting.
Starting the Laser Cutter
- Place your material on the bed of the cutter
- You may need to use magnets to keep your material flat. Please use caution when doing so as the nozzle of the laser can hit the magnets when cutting or engraving and cause damage. Consider using painters tape instead of magnets.
- Use the focus tool (attached between the laser cutter and the computer) to ensure the optimal distance.
- Make sure that the flange on the measuring tool is sitting in the correct groove on the laser arm (red circle). If the material and laser height is not at the optimal distance, then press the Z+ or Z- in the software to move the bed up and down slowly. Once the height is correct, then close the lid.
- Press RUN BOX to give an estimate of the perimeter of the cut.
- Press the small clock in the top work bar to estimate the work time required for the laser cutter. Note that the time estimated is usually too conservative and off by 10-20%.
- Go to DOWNLOAD.
- Go to DEL ALL to remove the previous program or file. If you do not delete the old file, then the software will cut the previous saved design.
- Go to CURRENT. The program will download and process your file//design. After the file/design is downloaded, close the window.
- Go to START and the laser will start run
Clean Up and Turning Off the Laser
- Clean up the laser cutting area with a vacuum if your design had lots of little pieces that could fall into and through the honeycomb.
- To turn off the laser cutter, exit the software and press the “stop” button to turn off the machine. A red button will flash while the bulb cools. Note: do not hold down the stop button when you turn off the machine.
Materials
Flat materials are ideal and strongly recommended. Warped materials can be flattened with magnets, but use them with extreme caution. Magnets in the path of the laser can damage the nozzle. Material that is cut can warp up into the path of the laser nozzle also causing damage. Flat material is best!
Circular materials can be cut using the rotary attachment, reach out on the laser channel for help setting it up.
Some common materials used by the laser cutter include acrylic, MDF, plywood, etc. at 3-4mm in thickness.
Due to the variation in materials from manufacturer, humidity, density, etc., you should do test batches to ensure the desired results.
Max size is 60x90 cm or 2’ x 3’
Recommended locations for purchasing materials
| Material | Location |
|---|---|
| Wood hardboard |
|
| Plastics |
|
Acrylic (PMMA): There are two types of acrylic: extruded vs cast. Both cut cleanly, but will produce different results on engraving
- Extruded plastics engraved properly will leave a clear finish on top, which is not easy to see on it’s own, and will not edge light. It can also produce a white floss (the white whispy strings of plastic coming off the surface) during the engraving process.
- Cast acrylic will make a shiny reflective surface on top that is obvious and visible and will edge light nicely.
- Burn marks: Burns marks might appear behind the cut. To protect the surface of your material, you can tape (use painter’s tape) on the back of the material. If you are cutting a plastic board, then keep the film that it came in on the plastic board to protect the back from creating white floss.
Material Power Speed Guidelines
NOTE These are starting points. Adjustments will be necessary based on variations in material, alignment of mirrors, age of the laser tube, and other factors. NEEDS UPDATING
| Type | Material | Speed | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | 3mm MDF | 18 | 100 |
| Cut | 1/4" MDF | 4 | 100 |
| Engrave | MDF | xx | xx |
| Cut | 3mm Baltic Birch Plywood | 18 | 100 |
| Cut | 1/8" Baltic Birch Plywood | 12 | 100 |
| Engrave | Baltic Birch Plywood | xx | xx |
| Cut | 3mm Acrylic | 18 | 100 |
| Cut | 4.5mm Acrylic | 6 | 100 |
| Engrave | Acrylic | xx | xx |
There's a chart with relatively good starting points available here (our laser is roughly 80 Watts): https://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/academic/class/99353-f16/speedsfeeds_RL.pdf
Add some notes about scan gap here
Notes relating to the laser cutter hardware
- Vent/filter/honeycomb bed: Do not expect that the vent/filter on the bed of the laser cutter is squared to anything. This vent/filter is moveable and requires regular cleaning. If there are lots of little bits in the vent/filter, then clean it up by using the brushes in the computer station. If necessary, use the assigned vacuum and lift the vent/filter to vacuum the dust.
- The cutting bed is 60cm by 90cm
- The blower/fan above the ceiling has a mesh filter that becomes clogged over time. If you notice a smoke buildup in the laser during operation, it is likely due to this filter clogging. Please notify the laser team if this is occurring. If you feel comfortable, the process for cleaning the filter with a vacuum is posted on the wall next to the duct leading to the blower.
Safety
- Fire: Be sure to always be in clear view of the laser cutter as fire is a very real and dangerous reality. If there is a significant fire, press the small “STOP,” then “DATUM” button on the software and put out the fire with one of the 2 CO2 fire extinguishers available. Be sure to familiarize yourself with where the “STOP” button and the “DATUM” button is on the machine and software, respectively. For a small fire, you can try to blow out the flame.
- Do not use any material that might have chlorine. You can check by heating a copper wire in a flame, touching the material, and then reheating the copper wire. If the flame emits a green colour then there is chlorine in the material. See Beilstein Test and a video demonstration.
Controller Manual
The controller is not the original, and has been updated to a RuiDa 6442G Laser Controller. The manual is available on Google Drive.
Replacement Parts
See Replacement Parts.